Two judicial officers from Kangema Law Courts in Murang'a County spent their Wednesday morning at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Central Regional Office in Nyeri being grilled over allegations of soliciting and receiving a bribe from a convicted businessman in exchange for influencing his sentence.
The duo was arrested on Tuesday in Kangema town during an EACC operation after they were allegedly caught receiving Sh150,000 from the complainant.
Even as the officers were being processed by the EACC, Chief Justice Martha Koome announced that the magistrate had been suspended from duty.
She condemned the action by the judicial officers, saying the allegations were “grave and, if proved, constitute a serious violation of the law and the Judicial Code of Conduct and Ethics, and the values that underpin the administration of justice.”
“The Judiciary and Judicial Service Commission have commenced the appropriate administrative and disciplinary processes under the Judicial Service Act and the applicable Human Resource policies,” the CJ said in a statement.
“Pending the conclusion of those processes, the judicial officer will be relieved of judicial duties in accordance with the law and established procedures, without prejudice to the ongoing criminal investigations by the relevant constitutional agencies,” Justice Koome said.
She said the Judiciary had consistently maintained a policy of zero tolerance to corruption and all forms of unethical conduct, noting that Judicial authority is exercised on behalf of the people of Kenya and must always be guided by the constitutional values of integrity, impartiality, accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.
“Any conduct that undermines public confidence in the administration of justice strikes at the very foundation of the Judiciary. I have consistently stated that Judges, Judicial Officers and members of staff cannot discharge justice with one hand and commit a crime with the other,” she added.
According to EACC, the arrests followed a complaint by a Murang'a businessman who had been convicted on July 2, 2026, in a criminal case of obtaining money by false pretences and was scheduled to be sentenced on July 22.
EACC Central Regional Director Japheth Baithalu said the businessman was allegedly approached by the probation officer, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the magistrate and demanded Sh170,000 in exchange for a favourable outcome.
Investigations established that the probation officer allegedly assured the complainant that the money would secure a favourable probation report and spare him a custodial sentence.
Following the complaint, EACC mounted an operation that culminated in the arrest of the two officers at a restaurant in Kangema Township, where they were allegedly receiving Sh150,000 from the complainant.
Mr Baithalu said the suspects were being processed ahead of their arraignment in court today (Wednesday) or Thursday. "We are also investigating more people, and very soon more arrests will be made in connection with this matter," he said.
